Matt was born and raised in rural Nebraska, about as far from the ocean as possible. But it is where he learned to appreciate the land and the animals that lived there. It is also where he first learned the value of aviation and that a mile of road can only get you a mile in one direction, but a mile of runway opens endless destinations and opportunities. He soloed at 16 and his love for flying has since never quit. He pursued professional pilot training with a business minor at LeTourneau University and gathered his Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor licenses, as well as his Air Frame and Power Plant (A&P) license. He went on to get an MBA from Embry Riddle.
He has worked at Evergreen International Airlines and Jeppesen before joining Bose where he holds multiple patents and is the product management lead for Aviation, Military, and Broadcast headsets. He first learned about Turtles Fly Too at an aviation trade show and was encouraged by his youngest son who was fascinated. Together they first volunteered by bringing coffee and donuts for the teams who would load the turtles into aircraft and the pilots who would fly them South to warmer climates or to recovery locations.
Matt is excited about the global impact that TF2 can have by helping to save endangered animals utilizing the natural passions pilots have. It is his hope that the unique perspectives pilots have the joy of experiencing as they fly above the oceans, lakes, and land helps to propagate the need for us all to appreciate nature and the fragility of life.
